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Category Archives: Spiritual Walk

Were We Taught?

08 May
Were We Taught?

In my last post, we started looking at Paul’s exhortation to us about knowing Christ intimately. I want to continue our talk on this subject.

God wants us to understand that living for Him is not just a single decision, but an ongoing walk. Sometimes I think that the modern church has lost sight of the spiritual life that the early church walked in. It’s a principle that many believers in former generations understood. We need to relearn some of the truths that we’ve let slip over time.

I like looking at church history. I read how those in the past lived for Christ. Sometimes the walk of these early Christians, and even my grandparents, amazes me. I see a walk of righteousness that we only dream about. It causes me to ask, why do we struggle with things that they overcame on a daily basis?

You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

Ephesians 4:22-24 NIV

I’ve come to the conclusion that we’ve lost something over time. In the above verse Paul said, “You were taught…” What was it that they were taught? I believe it was how to walk according to the Spirit.

It’s not something you just grow into. You don’t just wake up one day mature in the Lord. These are things that we need to be taught. More than that, we must accept, apply and perform them.

We sometimes get in trouble theologically because we rip things out of context. We apply things to our lives that are not for us or that we haven’t attained to yet. We need to know who this verse was written to.

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus…

Ephesians 1:1 NIV

We need to understand that Scripture wasn’t written in a vacuum. There were things surrounding what was written. The letter to the Ephesian church was sent to a group of mature, faithful believers who were walking in the truths Paul was writing about. They understood these things – and I’m convinced that many of us in the modern church don’t.

Here’s what happens. We read the words in chapter 4, above, and we think that it’s true about us. We think that Paul is writing these words to us. No, on the contrary, he’s writing to a people who are living it; as an example to us.

If the things Paul wrote in that verse were true of us, then we would be experiencing it in our daily walk. Why then are we still corrupted by our deceitful desires? Why do so many in the church still have the same attitudes as the world? Why, in the church today, do we still not live like Jesus, with the same love and works that He operated in?

I believe it’s because we’ve lost some of the truth that these other generations possessed. There are three things in the above verses that need to be done. Paul said that they put off their old man, renewed their minds and put on the new man.

I’m convinced that these milestones are worked on after our initial salvation. Paul makes it clear that these were things that they were taught. Teaching requires time, and I don’t think it was time spent being taught before they received Christ.

This has been on my heart for a while now. I’m burdened not only for myself but for the church as a whole to experience this renewal. Because of that, I may be posting about this subject for longer than I normally take for a couple of verses. But I really think that it’s needed and relevant to the church today.

Question: What would the church look like if we were “like God in true righteousness and holiness”?

© 2023 Nick Zaccardi

 
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Posted by on May 8, 2023 in Revival, Spiritual Walk, The Church

 

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Do You Truly Know Christ?

05 May
Do You Truly Know Christ?

As we continue through Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, I just talked about how not to live for Christ. Paul exhorted us to live above the world’s way of thinking. Now he goes on to show us the true way to a fulfilled Christian life.

You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

Ephesians 4:20-24 NIV

The apostle is talking about gaining a knowledge of Christ Jesus. The knowledge of Christ that he’s talking about is that which is based in relationship. It’s the knowledge of Christ that changes your life. Nothing is off-limits to the Holy Spirit.

This was the basis of Paul’s prayer that we looked at in the beginning of this series from Ephesians.

I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.

Ephesians 1:17 NIV

What is this knowledge actually about? He uses the Greek word epignosis. There’s really no exact word in the English to translate it. It means to have full discernment or recognition.

It’s like this…I can tell you that I know Abraham Lincoln. But you would immediately realize that I was lying. That’s because you know that there’s no way I could have ever met him.

I may have studied about him in history. I might have watched documentaries about his life. I know about him – but I don’t know him.

That’s what Paul is trying to tell us in this verse. He didn’t pray that we would read the Bible more; or that we would attend church and listen to more sermons about Christ. Instead, he prayed that we would tap into the Spirit of wisdom and revelation. He wanted our knowledge of Christ to be more intimate than second-hand word of mouth.

In order to truly know the Lord, we need wisdom – the ability to interpret and apply the facts that we know. We also need revelation; the uncovering of things that we don’t know. That’s how we learn to know Christ in the way He wants to be known.

“Well, then it’s up to God to give me this knowledge.”

Actually, He already did. When we were saved, He placed the Holy Spirit on the inside of us.

We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true — even in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.

1 John 5:20 NIV

This has already been accomplished in us. If we’re in Christ, then we have the Holy Spirit. Now it’s up to us to receive the wisdom and revelation that He desires to give to us.

But that seems to be the hard part. Because receiving God’s wisdom means that I leave the foolish thinking of the world. That’s key to living a fulfilled life in Christ.

I’m going to take a few posts to look into this a little more deeply. Hopefully, it will be a blessing to you as you come along with me on this spiritual journey.

Question: How does worldly thinking have a negative effect on the life of a Christian?

© 2023 Nick Zaccardi

 
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Posted by on May 5, 2023 in Prayer, Revival, Spiritual Walk

 

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That’s No Way to Live

03 May
That’s No Way to Live

We’re continuing through the book of Ephesians. Paul now tells us the type of life to keep away from.

So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more.

Ephesians 4:17-19 NIV

Paul has quite a lot say in this paragraph. But it goes a long way in describing our society at this point in history. Unfortunately, we see much of this creeping into the lives of God’s people.

The first thing he tells us is that this is no way to live. We’re not like the rest of the world. So, we shouldn’t think like them. We can’t have a life view like society around us.

The apostle describes it in this way. He says that their thinking is futile. That literally means that their thoughts are empty, devoid of truth. That should never be a description of how a Christian thinks.

But, the fact that Paul is warning us about it, tells me that we could fall victim to this thought process. How could that happen? What would make a believer take on the world view of the unsaved?

According to Paul, their understanding is darkened. This means that the area of their mind that thinks deeply is darkened. They aren’t using this facility that God has given them.

This is something I’ve observed in the lives of some Christians. We don’t want to think deeply about the things of God anymore. We want the shallow teachings that can get us in and out of church quickly.

The word, separated, in this verse means to be off on one’s own. Too many of us want to be off on our own, away from the life of God. We know what God wants for us, but we don’t want to walk in it just yet. We have other priorities right now.

We have to understand that it’s the life of the Lord that brings light to our minds. The further we walk from God’s way, the darker our thinking becomes. But that’s just a symptom of the true problem.

It starts with ignorance – the desire not to know something. There are some things from God’s Word we just don’t want to hear. That’s because we know that it will convict us.

As we continue down this path, our hearts become hardened. The knowledge of God’s Word has less and less of an effect on us.

At that point, we begin to lose sensitivity to the Holy Spirit. We no longer listen to that still, small voice that’s calling us closer to God. Then, we find ourselves in a place we never thought we would get to. We’re doing things we never though we would do.

It’s time for us to turn around. Listen to what the Lord spoke to Israel if they would turn back to His ways.

I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh.

Ezekiel 11:19 NIV

If you find yourself in this condition – thinking and acting the same as the world around you – it’s time to pause and consider. Begin to think deeply about your relationship with God. If repentance is needed, then be quick to approach the throne of grace.

The time is now for God’s people to live on the level He calls us to. Then the world will see the difference in us. Then they’ll be drawn to the feet of Christ.

Question: What is the condition of your heart?

© 2023 Nick Zaccardi

 
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Posted by on May 3, 2023 in Prayer, Revival, Spiritual Walk

 

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No Longer Infants

28 Apr
No Longer Infants

As we go through the book of Ephesians, Paul is talking about our growth and maturity. The five-fold ministry is tasked with preparing us for growth and service to Christ. To become mature, we must leave the infant stage behind.

Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.

Ephesians 4:14 NIV

When we’re saved, we’re adopted into God’s family as infants. We then need to grow into the full-fledged rights of sonship. One of the dangers of infanthood is the trusting nature of a child. We often see this in new believers.

Spiritual infants are inexperienced in the Word. Because of this, they’re very trusting of anyone quoting a Bible verse. They tend to jump in with any new fad that comes out on Christian radio or TV.

That’s why they need to be firmly grounded in a local church where the basics of the Scripture are taught. That’s the only way they can learn to distinguish truth from flakiness.

The United States has become a hotbed for new doctrines for people to follow. Sometimes I watch Christian cable networks. I see people who use the Scriptures to convince you to take money from your wallet and put it into theirs.

Even though their doctrines and teachings are foolish, out of context from the Scripture, and, many times, illogical, Christians flock to their meetings. They rake in millions of dollars a year. Spiritually speaking, they’re “stealing candy from babies.”

There are other places in Scripture that talk about this stage of development.

Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly — mere infants in Christ.

1 Corinthians 3:1 NIV

One of the main characteristics of an infant in Christ is worldliness. They run after the things that our society says will satisfy them. They have the same mindset as the world and place importance on obtaining things and pleasures.

Unfortunately, because we’re unaware of the growth process, many overzealous believers will write these people off. Sometimes in our self-righteous fervor we may even accuse them of being unsaved. That’s as foolish as telling your 5-month old that he’s not a part of the family because he never takes out the trash. Instead of condemning them, we should be there to help guide them through the growth process.

But, more than anything else, the infant stage of our walk with God is characterized by the following…

Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness.

Hebrews 5:13 NIV

The word acquainted in this verse literally means to test, attempt, or experience. This verse says that the infant believer has not yet tested, attempted or experienced the Word of righteousness. Yes, they are righteous by position in Christ. But they haven’t yet learned how to apply it to their daily walk.

So many American believers are living for themselves, yet they feel secure because they only know about positional righteousness. When they read the Bible, or hear a sermon about the effects and blessings of righteousness, they think it automatically applies to them. Little do they realize that so much of Scripture deals with the walk of righteousness rather than the position.

Because of the lack of teaching on the Word of Righteousness we have produced a generation of Christians who seem to be perpetual infants. They’re continuing in their habits and sins. They follow after whatever the world offers them. Worst of all, they don’t realize their condition – total powerlessness in the spiritual realm.

It’s time for us to grow up in Christ. Only then will we see the full power of the Holy Spirit manifest in us.

Question: How do you treat the infant believers that are in your circle?

© 2023 Nick Zaccardi

 
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Posted by on April 28, 2023 in Ministry, Sonship, Spiritual Walk

 

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On to Maturity

26 Apr
On to Maturity

I’ve been going through the letter to the Ephesian church. In it, Paul writes about our ministry as the body of Christ on earth. In my last post I talked about the five-fold ministry.

That’s the group of leaders that serve on a global level. They are the ministry gifts of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers. According to Paul, they’re given for a specific purpose.

…to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Ephesians 4:12-13 NIV

This word, mature, also means to be complete. This is God’s desire for His people. That we attain to the same level of maturity as Christ.

The unfortunate thing is that many teach that this is impossible. Over and over, we’re told that to walk like Jesus is beyond our reach. I don’t buy into this type of reasoning.

When I see the lives of the Apostles in the book of Acts, I don’t get the idea that they’re immature. I see the same signs and wonders that were performed by the Lord. I see thousands of people drawn to, and changed by, the Word of God. If it was possible for them, then the same is true for us – if we’re willing to walk the same road they walked to get there.

One of the key ingredients to us reaching this level is the ministry gifts God has given to the body of Christ. In talking about apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers, Paul said that they were given as gifts to the church. They have a very clear purpose.

The goal of the five-fold ministry is the maturing of the saints. The level of that maturity is beyond question. It is that we would live and minister as the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Why would the Holy Spirit inspire Paul to write these words if it were not possible? We need to stop making excuses and start working towards the walk of maturity.

Paul understood this aspect of his work as an apostle of Christ.

We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.

Colossians 1:28-29 NIV

That’s the goal of the ministry. We are here to present everyone – not just a select few – perfect and mature in Christ. This requires supernatural strength and wisdom. We cannot hope to perform this on a merely human level. As a minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, I need to yield to the power of the Holy Spirit to accomplish this great task.

The belief that this is impossible to achieve in our lifetime only serves to undermine the Lord’s goal for us. We need to recognize where He’s leading us to, and cooperate with the Lord’s program for our development. After all, He’s bringing us on an incredible spiritual journey.

Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

James 1:4 NIV

In the book of James, we’re shown the path it takes to get to maturity. The final piece he talks about is perseverance. But I want us to see the result of this work. What happens once you reach this mature walk?

James clearly states, from the Holy Spirit and his experience, that when you walk in maturity you lack nothing. Lacking nothing – that’s what the church is striving for in this generation.

If we’re going to operate at this level, then we need the spiritual walk of maturity.

Question: What would the ministry of a spiritually mature believer look like?

© 2023 Nick Zaccardi

 
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Posted by on April 26, 2023 in Leadership, Ministry, Spiritual Walk, The Church

 

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Unity – Not Just a Suggestion

21 Apr
Unity – Not Just a Suggestion

As we go through Paul’s letter to the Ephesian church, we’re seeing how we are to function as a body of believers. We’re called to guard the spirit of unity that Christ brought us into. Paul continues with that thought.

There is one body and one Spirit – just as you were called to one hope when you were called – one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

Ephesians 4:4-6 NIV

I’m amazed that the Holy Spirit felt the need to emphasize the fact that there’s only one body and only one Spirit. Too often we think of the church as a group of different entities. Each denomination has its own structure and belief system.

That’s not how the Lord planned it to work. When He looks at the earth, Christ sees one body of believers. We’re the ones who place these virtual divisions into His church.

This verse literally says that we were called with one hope of our calling. To understand what he’s saying, you have to know the biblical definition of hope.

It has nothing to do with the modern concept of wishful thinking. We’re not just “trusting that everything will turn out alright”.

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.

Hebrews 10:23 NIV

The Scripture is clear. We’re not just wishing that God will do what He says. We fully expect to see God’s will accomplished in us.

That’s what hope is all about in the Bible. It’s an expectation that we’ll see the manifestation of God’s promises.

So, when we read the above verse in Ephesians, we understand that there’s only one calling. That’s because the word, you, is plural in the Greek. We are called with one calling and one expectation of that calling.

That’s why it annoys me so much when someone says that they are personally called to do something for God. Then, they proceed to push themselves forward and walk over other believers in their attempt to “fulfill their calling”.

There is only one call and one hope. Each of us has a role to play in accomplishing it. But we’re called to work together, just as our body functions as a unit.

It would be foolish to think that my right hand had a goal that only it could do by itself. That would be outside the realm of reality. But, in the church, we act like that very often.

Paul continues to clarify this thought. There is only one Lord – one Commander-in-Chief. He’s the one giving us our marching orders. His plan includes everybody.

This means that there’s only one who we put our trust in. We don’t trust any human leader or even positive thinking. We place our trust and our hope firmly in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Then we’re told that there’s one baptism – that’s a word that’s too religious. It’s a Greek word that means immersion. We are all immersed into one thing – the body of Christ. That’s why Paul makes it clear that God the Father is over all, through all, and in all.

If we’re going to accomplish the work that God has called us to, then we need to ignore all of our man-made differences. We must focus on the calling of the church. Then, we find our place in God’s plan and obey His instructions to us.

That’s actually what Paul is going to get into as he continues in this epistle. So, over the next few weeks, we’ll see how this progresses.

Question: Where do you see yourself in the body of Christ?

© 2023 Nick Zaccardi

 
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Posted by on April 21, 2023 in Ministry, Spiritual Walk, The Church

 

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The Unity of the Spirit

19 Apr
The Unity of the Spirit

As we go through Paul’s letter to the Ephesian church, we must keep in mind that the Holy Spirit is beginning to emphasize our corporate walk. He’s showing us how to function together as the body of Christ on earth. This thought continues.

Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
Ephesians 4:3

In order to grasp this, we must first define the term, unity. We must understand that there’s a big difference between unity and agreement. Most Christians use these two terms interchangeably. Actually, they’re two very different truths.

The Word of God is clear that agreement is when we think and believe the same way.

“Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven.”
Matthew 18:19

In this verse, the Greek word that’s translated, agree, is sumphoneo. It’s where we get our English word symphony. It literally means to sound together. You agree on the facts, so you speak the same thing.

This means that if I believe Jesus is Healer, and you believe Jesus is Healer, we’ll sound the same when we speak. In that case, we’re in agreement. That makes it a function of our soul.

Unity is a whole different thing. Look at the above verse from Ephesians again.

In the same way that agreement is a function of our soul, unity is a function of our spirits. What we need to realize is that we’ve already been made one in Christ. It’s now our job to keep or guard the unity of the spirit.

In the Greek, the phrase, make every effort, means to use prompt and earnest effort. This tells me that it requires work on our part. There’s something we need to do. In order to keep this unity, it will require the power of the Holy Spirit at work in us.

It’s all about allowing the Lord to connect me to those around me in the body of Christ. Only then can we fulfill our calling together. Listen to Paul’s exhortation to the Philippian church.

Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel…

Philippians 1:27 NIV

Whenever I read this verse, I have to change the tone of my voice. This should be read like a general encouraging his troops on the eve of battle. Their goal is to have complete victory over their enemy.

It’s the same for the church of Jesus Christ. Everyday should be considered life on a battleground. As a matter of fact, Paul will get into that further on in this letter to the Ephesians.

Too many believers don’t understand this fact. They think that they can float through life caring only for themselves. That’s a recipe for defeat.

The Lord, Himself, as well as the apostles make it clear that we’re in a spiritual battle. If that’s the case, then it’s impossible to win this victory all by ourselves.

Paul’s commands are perfectly clear. We are to stand firm in one spirit. That’s the only way that we can be contending as one man for the Gospel. In order to do that, we need to line up our spirits with the Holy Spirit.

I believe that this means we need to be praying in the spirit. It’s this prayer in the spirit that unifies us for the spiritual war that we face each day. This is the unifying factor in the church.

Question: How often are you involved in corporate prayer in the spirit?

© 2023 Nick Zaccardi

 
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Posted by on April 19, 2023 in Fellowship, Power of God, Prayer in the Spirit, Relationships, Revival, Spiritual Walk, The Church

 

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Worthy of the Calling – Humble

14 Apr
Worthy of the Calling – Humble

We’re continuing to go through Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. In this post, we’re starting chapter 4.

As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.

Ephesians 4:1-2 NIV

A couple of weeks ago, I talked about what it means to be a prisoner of Christ. At that time I dealt with living worthy of that calling. Now I want to take it a step further and let Paul explain what that worthy life looks like.

What we’ll find out is that all the words Paul uses to describe this life deal with our treatment of others. In Ephesians, the Holy Spirit is beginning to show us how we are to live and function as the body of Christ on earth.

First, we come to the word, humble. This is not the normal word used for humility. Actually, this is the first place in the New Testament that the Holy Spirit used this word. It’s a compound word that’s full of meaning in the Greek language.

This word means to have a humble view of yourself. But it also means that you realize just how small you really are. In Scripture, we find that this word is either a good thing or bad, depending on the context.

In some places it talks about people who use this mindset to put on a show. They want to appear humble in order to get people to follow them. That’s not what Paul is talking about in this verse.

True humbleness of mind is one of the foundations for life in the kingdom of God. It’s being able to see yourself as part of the whole. It’s not all about me. I’m simply one cell in the body. We all need each other.

According to the Scripture, this isn’t something that just comes naturally. Paul talks about it in Colossians.

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

Colossians 3:12 NIV

This humility of mind needs to be put on like a garment. It covers over any other feelings we may be struggling with. This tells me that it’s a choice that we make in dealing with others. In the same way that I choose to love, I must also choose to see myself as simply one part of an organism.

The Apostle Peter talks about this as well.

All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

1 Peter 5:5b NIV

Again, Peter refers to this kind of humility as something that you need to put on as a choice. However, he uses a different word for this process. The word, clothe, in this verse, literally means to put on your work clothes.

This speaks of the purpose of humble mindedness. We have a work to do. None of us can accomplish our calling all by ourselves. It has to be done in cooperation with one another. In order for that to happen, I need the correct mindset.

The ability to see and accept that I’m a part of a body of believers is essential to fulfilling God’s call. We’re not alone in this endeavor. God has called us to work together. This is life in the body of Christ.

Peter goes so far as to say that receiving God’s grace depends on it. Yes, I received God’s grace for my salvation, but that’s not the end of it. I continually need the Lord’s grace to fulfill what He’s asked me to do for Him. I have to put on my “work clothes” of humility before I can pick up the “tools” of grace that I need.

Never see yourself as a “lone ranger” in service to Christ. We’re in this together. There’s power in our unity. In my next post, I’ll talk about the other words Paul uses in the above verse from Ephesians.

Question: How do you cultivate this humble mindset?

© 2023 Nick Zaccardi

 
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Posted by on April 14, 2023 in Ministry, Relationships, Spiritual Walk, The Church

 

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Love and Power

12 Apr
Love and Power

I’m continuing my look at Paul’s letter to the Ephesian church. In my last post, I started talking about Paul’s prayer in chapter 3, verse 14. The apostle goes on to tell them a little more of what he prays for them. We need to take it to heart as well.

And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge — that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Ephesians 3:17b-19 NIV

This section of Scripture is absolutely loaded with truth. It even contains a couple of repetitive themes which are always important to understand.

But let’s start at the goal line. What is actually being prayed for in these verses? I see two things that the church is striving for. They are power and the fullness of God. Even in this generation, I hear prayers going up for these two blessings.

They’re both very much needed in the body of Christ today. We need to see the power of God manifest in the miraculous. That would definitely draw many people to Christ.

The same is true with the fullness of God. We need everything He has to offer us. We need the Lord’s wisdom, authority, strength, and boldness. We have to start walking as Christ did. That’s what will get the attention of the world.

The question is, what will it take to walk in the power and fullness of God? For that we need to start from the beginning of this section of Scripture. This literally says that we need to have our roots and our foundation in love.

That’s where it all starts. We have to begin with a love-walk. Please understand that I’m not just talking about a modern cultural “luv ya” kind of love. It needs to be a love that takes root deep in our hearts.

That’s where Paul’s prayer for power comes in. God’s people are always praying for power. We want the power for healing and miracles. We want the power of the Lord to increase our finances and give us influence with those in authority.

We all want the life changing, victorious power of the Holy Spirit to be at work in us. What exactly was Paul’s desire for the power of God to do in their lives? It’s actually something that I never hear the modern church pray for in regard to power.

He wanted the supernatural power of God, so that they could grasp the love of God. That’s how absolutely beyond our experience this love is. It takes the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit to grasp it.

That’s the first piece of repetition. Paul wants them to know something that goes beyond knowledge. Obviously, that’s beyond my ability.

So, in short, I cannot love God without knowing God. (God is love) I cannot know God and His love without His power at work in me. He has to reveal His love to me. Why is that so important? That’s the next step in the process.

Paul is clear as to why he wants them to know God’s love in a supernatural way. So that they may be filled with the fullness of God (The other repetition). Here’s another interesting thought I had. As I said, I’ve heard many believers pray for the fullness of God’s power in them. Yet, I never heard them pray for the power to understand and know His love. Maybe that’s why the church in America is not where it should be. We want power without love.

Christ is our example. Power and love in perfect unity and balance. That’s what we must seek. Press into the power. Seek the power to grasp the love of God. Only then will you be truly equipped to walk in the fullness of what God has for you.

Question: How does God’s love qualify you for His power and fullness?

© 2023 Nick Zaccardi

 
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Posted by on April 12, 2023 in Anointing, Ministry, Power of God, Prayer, Revival, Spiritual Walk

 

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Strength for the Journey

05 Apr
Strength for the Journey

We’re continuing our study through the book of Ephesians. Paul is writing to us about the riches we share as the body of Christ on earth.

For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name.

Ephesians 3:14-15 NIV

Paul now gives us some insight into his prayer life. He’s constantly in prayer for the churches and people who have come to the Lord under his ministry. It was a great burden on his heart.

It’s important for us to see where this intercession starts. He doesn’t go right into the petitioning for God to bless these people. He starts out by kneeling before the Father.

That’s an important fact that we sometimes miss. Throughout the Bible, whenever worship is described, there are certain common elements. One of them is kneeling.

Whenever a body position is described, a worshiper is always kneeling down. Many times, they have their face to the ground. Most Christians don’t realize that this is the normal position for worship.

Because we call the songs before a service “praise and worship”, we think fast songs are praise and slow songs are worship. That’s an American church thing. It’s not the Scriptural definitions.

In reality, praise involves the body. It’s about what God has done. It could be music and singing, clapping, dancing, or loud declarations of thanks to God. Worship is very different.

Worship is about who God is. It’s an act of our spirit (John 4:23-24) with no body involvement. True worship is usually silent. It happens infrequently when a “holy hush” comes over the congregation. Most of the time we get uncomfortable and start to fidget, hoping the service will continue quickly.

Paul makes it clear that his prayer time starts with worship. He begins by quieting his heart before the Lord God. Only after his time of worship does he begin to lift up God’s people.

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.

Ephesians 3:16-17a NIV

Paul wants to see the church walking in the power of God. That’s how we can fully operate in the spiritual life God has for us. But, it’s important to note that this takes place through our spirits.

Again, it has a lot to do with our worship of God. We need to spend time praying in the spirit to see the power of God increasing in our lives.

The word, strengthen, in the above verse is not a one-time thing. That word implies an ongoing strengthening. We need to become spiritually stronger day by day. It’s a lot like becoming strong in the natural. I had to learn that lesson.

Now that we’re in the Spring season, my mind starts to think about hiking. Those who have read this blog for a long time will know that I love to get out and walk the Appalachian Trail. In order to be ready, I’ve been out walking whenever I can. I want to strengthen those lazy winter muscles.

Strength is a necessary part of the outdoors experience. When my wife and I started to add children to our family we stopped hiking because of the limited time we had. Since I’ve started back up again, I’ve lost 30 pounds. (Pounds that I had “found” up till that time!)

I can tell you by experience that out of shape people cannot enjoy hiking as fully as those used to the rigors of trail life. I remember well the pain in my legs and back when I first started. I had to stop every few feet while going uphill, just to breathe. Thank God, I’m starting to get in shape again!

More important than physical condition, however, is the shape of your inner being. The spiritual trail we’re on is far tougher than any wilderness trail. God wants to strengthen you for that journey.

It is going to take quality time spent in the presence of the Lord. That’s why prayer in the spirit is so beneficial. It builds you up internally. To do this you must free yourself from distractions so that you can concentrate on Christ.

As I’ve been saying, that’s what worship is all about. Spend time before Him just drinking in His Spirit. Take the time necessary so that your inner man is ready for the road ahead, no matter how rough the path.

Question: How strong is your inner man?

© 2023 Nick Zaccardi

 
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Posted by on April 5, 2023 in Ministry, Power of God, Prayer, Prayer in the Spirit, Revival, Spiritual Walk, Worship

 

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